History and overview:
“Unchain My Heart” is an R&B song that was a big hit for Ray Charles and then covered by many other singers over the years, notably by Joe Cocker. It was composed in 1960 by Bobby Sharp who shares songwriting credit with Teddy Powell.

The original Real Book included a few non-jazz pop and rock hits, and Hal Leonard seems to be following in this tradition by including “Unchain My Heart” in the published 6th Edition. If you want to include an exciting, easy-to-play rhythm and blues tune in your repertoire, this is it!

Recommended videos/recordings:
(for international readers who may not have access to these YouTube links, I’ve indicated the original album names wherever possible so you can listen to them on music streaming services, etc.)

Ray Charles: Greatest Hits

Joe Cocker

Musical ideas and jazz piano practice tips:
When you’re soloing on “Unchain My Heart,” please resist the temptation to play all your bebop licks and treat it as a jazz tune. It’s not. Rather, it’s a soulful R&B tune that can absorb elements of jazz and especially blues. So come to it from the R&B tradition and let loose over the groove, using the ‘A’ Blues scale like we see in the melody. Once you’ve established a solid, bluesy foundation with your improvising, then yes, start experimenting with modes, bebop licks, and anything else you want to try from the jazz side of the spectrum.

Use your personal taste as your guide, and check out how well the jazz alto saxophonist Phil Woods navigates the jazz/pop divide on Billy Joel’s “Just The Way You Are.” Also check out the master himself, Ray Charles, as well as Maceo Parker’s tenor sax wailing on James Brown’s recordings. By listening to what established improvisers have done on pop, rock, soul, and R&B recordings, you’ll get a good sense of how far you can “push the envelope” with your own soloing.

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As a piano teacher, I 'll share with you what I learned from my own piano teachers, including jazz legend Billy Taylor. Click HERE to get started with my video course along with my personal guidance. Please email me at rondrotos@keyboardimprov.com if you're interested in Skype lessons.

Hi! I'm Ron Drotos and I'm passionate about teaching all forms of piano improv including jazz, rock, blues, pop, & even classical improvisation. My own journey has taken me to Carnegie Hall, Broadway shows including Smokey Joe's Cafe and Swinging On A Star, and NYC's Blue Note jazz club, and now I'm sharing this experience with piano students worldwide. I'll show you how to play with a new sense of joy and fluency!

After performing at Carnegie Hall, for Broadway shows, and at NYC's Blue Note jazz club, I'm now dedicating myself to teaching piano students all over the world how to improvise with a new sense of joy and fluency. Click HERE to begin my well-sequenced, step-by-step video course, or email me at rondrotos@keyboardimprov.com for Skype piano lessons.